The Prince and the Showgirl Page #5

in an accident.

The hospital is calling

for her most urgently.

What?

Oh, go away, you silly man!

Miss Marina, your aunt. You realize

how serious her condition is?

It's her own fault.

She has no right to be out

this time of night. She's 93.

Miss Marina asked you to go.

I command you to go.

I'm seriously displeased

at this breach of etiquette. . .

. . .and shall no doubt express

my displeasure in certain course.

Go!

My dear.

I got a solemn word

of warning for you.

What is that, my beloved?

You know what's going to happen?

I'm gonna fall in love with you.

Because I always, always do.

Always?

Both times.

So you better watch out.

You better watch out.

Oh, what pretty cherubs

on the ceiling.

Good night, my darling.

Good night.

See you in the morning.

Major Domo!

Stop that infernal din!

How do you expect a man get any sleep?

Morning, sir.

Good gracious.

-Good morning.

-Good morning, sir.

My father has sent for me.

Should I go in?

Perhaps better not.

I understand his valets are

having trouble with his shaving.

Promising weather for the coronation,

don't you think?

A pity you can't go into the abbey,

but protocol forbids it.

I understand you'll watch

the procession from the Ritz.

You should have an exceptional view.

Who is accompanying Your Majesty?

The Duke of Strelitz

and, of course, my jailer.

Your jailer?

-Colonel Hoffman.

-Is that you, Nicky?

Yes, Father.

Good morning, Nicky.

I've been thinking things over.

It's better you not have Strelitz

with you this morning.

I do not want

to be alone with Hoffman!

Strelitz is my cousin. I have not

seen him since his abdication.

I know you're fond of him, but--

Dummkopf!. Am I to go to the coronation

looking like a sliced tomato?

Nicky, when in England

we speak only English.

You are merely sulking

because of Wolfstein's arrest.

The issue is too important

for sulking.

What has happened in my country

since last night?

The riots are still continuing.

They appear to be well-organized.

I have had no option but to order

certain further arrests.

Further arrests?

I have the list here, I think.

No friends of yours there, I hope.

I am not allowed to have politicians

for friends, you know that.

Thank you so much, Mr. Northbrook.

I wonder who it is

I have left off this list.

There was a name he was looking for

and relieved to find not there.

Northbrook!

Do I see what I saw?

I fear so, sir. Yes.

Why has she not been got rid of?

I understand her sleep was heavy

and resistant to shaking.

She cannot be seen here at this hour.

She will make a scandal!

Suppose the queen sees her like that?

Her sense of comme il faut....

She has as much sense of

comme il faut as a rhinoceros.

Do I gather the evening was not

an entirely happy one?

This British understatement of yours,

I begin to find irritating.

-It was an unqualified nightmare.

-I'm so sorry.

I have only one evening in London.

One single evening to arrange for

myself relaxation. And what happens?

Out of the whole of

this vast, teeming city. . .

. . .teeming with beautiful,

intelligent women. . .

. . .you find me a little

American ninnycompoop.

With respect, sir,

either ninny or nincompoop.

Ninnycompoop will serve.

She fully deserves a new word.

The mind of a backward child,

the muscles of a boxer. . .

. . .an approach to life of such

stomach-turning sentimentality. . .

. . .that I found myself last night

uttering phrases. . .

. . .which had they been overheard would

make me the laughingstock of Europe.

To crown it all, she's rendered

insensible by an amount of vodka. . .

. . .which in Carpathia

you would add to the morning milk. . .

. . .of a 4-year-old child

as a mild tonic.

To think how overjoyed

Lucy Sunningdale would have been. . .

. . .if I had asked her

to have a little supper with me.

I have to remind you,

I think I heard you remark. . .

. . .that you found Lady Sunningdale

old hat.

I have no doubt at all that I did.

Nevertheless, there is

an old Russian saying:

"Better an old hat than a bare head. "

Telephone Lady Sunningdale

and ask her to join me for supper.

But, sir, the coronation ball?

I shall make a token appearance

and leave in good time. About 12:30.

But coronation night,

she may have an engagement.

She will break it.

Good morning.

That's his room in there, isn't it?

I've just got to say good morning.

-Who is that?

-Guess who?

Good morning. Oh, you poor darling!

You've cut yourself.

-It is nothing.

-But you still look lovely to me.

-What's the matter?

-Someone might come in.

This is Times Square. I found out

last night, but who cares?

But this is the morning.

It's different.

What's different about it?

Unless it's you.

I assure you,

I'm exactly the same person.

You're not acting the same.

But this is the morning.

You keep saying that. I remember

last night you kept repeating yourself.

Tell me, my darling grand duke. . .

. . .is it only late at night

that you're such a lonely person. . .

. . .you feel the need to share

your life with a pure woman. . .

. . .whose bright faith,

ennobling love. . . .

Certain phrases should never

be quoted out of context.

I don't know what that means.

Yes, I do.

It means it's the morning.

Doesn't it?

Anyway, to me it's still dream time.

This coronation day, 1911. . .

. . .I woke up to find myself

madly in love with you.

Madly.

So there.

I'm overwhelmed, but alas,

I feel it my duty to explain--

Don't make another long speech.

Although some last night

made more sense than you know.

You do need more love in your life.

I never met anyone who needed it more.

So now you've got it,

good luck to you.

Cheerio.

-Is that all you can say?

-My dear, of course I'm overwhelmed.

But alas, we have

so little time together.

I must leave tomorrow for Carpathia.

Tomorrow?

Oh, well! As soon as the show

is over, I'll rush right over.

Splendid.

Anyway we still have today,

haven't we?

Well, you see, Miss Marina--

Miss Marina?

It was "beloved" last night.

Well, alas, beloved. . . .

Don't go on saying "alas"

in that phony way.

-Here we go, Times Square!

-We have 7 minutes.

I must get ready. And so, alas--

I'm afraid we must say

our little adieus.

Okay, honey, get into your costume.

I'll be sitting outside the theater.

That's where you came last night.

That's just opposite Admiralty Arch.

So don't forget

to wave to me, will you?

I will remember.

-Could you get me a raincoat?

-Raincoat?

I can't go down the street this way.

I see your point.

I'll try to find you one. . .

. . .but such things are not easy

to come by in Belgrave Square.

-She can't have stayed all night.

-Where did she stay, then?

Look! Isn't that her at the window?

Elsie! Elsie!

She didn't see us.

-Should we wait?

-We must make her see.

Oh, it's you.

I mean, it's Your-- What are you--?

Oh, Your Majesty.

Good morning.

That was a charming dance.

It's a little routine I have

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes